Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 135-116 street win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday. …
1. Three up, three down and solely 79 extra to go. Can the Cavaliers win all of them?
2. OK, perhaps I’m getting slightly forward of myself, however the Cavs are 3-0, they usually did win their first back-to-back of the season. Sure, the opposition has been simply OK to downright unhealthy, however a win is a win is a win. And the Cavs have three.
3. On this one, the Cavs seemed slightly sluggish. As if perhaps that they had some jet lag. Or perhaps it was simply because they performed the night time earlier than in Cleveland, whereas the Wizards have been merely sitting at house, ready.
4. However identical to the Cavs did in wins over the Raptors and Pistons, they got here out within the third quarter and systematically put the Wizards away. Slowly, however absolutely, Cleveland constructed a 27-point lead.
5. It’s true that the Cavs have performed three opponents that aren’t anticipated to make the playoffs, and even come that shut. However these video games haven’t been shut, both. For probably the most half, the second half has been Blowout Metropolis.
6. That’s encouraging. So is the actual fact Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson appears snug going 10-11 deep within the rotation, not feeling the necessity to wear down the starters. Atkinson has been across the NBA for a very long time. He understands the lengthy sport.
7. Donovan Mitchell was magnificent in recording 30 factors on 11-of-18 capturing, passing for 5 assists. He additionally went 6-of-11 on 3-pointers. Typically, you want your star to take cost when issues are lagging, and Mitchell is without doubt one of the greatest within the NBA at that. He’s a pick-up-the-pace artist.
8. Or how about Jarrett Allen? He took 10 pictures. He made 10 pictures. He scored 23 and dominated the paint.
9. Then there’s Darius Garland, who additionally scored 23. He did so on a scorching 9-of-11 from the sector. So yeah, Allen and Garland have been a mixed 19-of-21. Throw in Mitchell and it’s 30-of-39.
10. On the earth of the NBA, I consider that’s what they name “on fire.”
11. Evan Mobley added 13 factors and 12 rebounds, and but once more, Ty Jerome managed to someway get into the lane and quietly attain double figures in scoring.
12. Towards the Wizards, Jerome made 4 pictures (on six makes an attempt), one three, 5 free throws and completed with 14 factors. Like most everybody, Mobley and Jerome have been fairly doggone environment friendly, forcing nothing.
13. Sam Merrill added 11 factors and Caris LeVert scored 10. Sure, it’s a small pattern measurement, however the bench appears to be like improved.
14. Atkinson to reporters, through Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com: “We’re connected, playing well together on both ends. You just feel that energy when a team’s connected. It’s hard to define it, but you know it when you see it.”
15. The coach added that if you end up gifted and related, “you can do some important things in this league.”
16. Now comes the enjoyable half. Or the robust half. A sport in New York towards the Knicks looms (Monday night time). The following week is tougher on paper. After the Knicks, it’s LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, in Cleveland, adopted by the Orlando Magic, additionally in Cleveland (Wednesday and Friday, respectively).
17. Win, lose or draw, it will likely be fascinating to see how the Cavs stack up towards opponents which might be … nicely, significantly better than what they’ve confronted. However it’s important to like how the Cavs have flat-out dealt with enterprise to date. They’re enjoying the best means and getting outcomes.
18. Allen defined Atkinson’s level slightly additional. “We all have egos, but nobody has an ego that’s going to overshadow the team,” he mentioned. “Outside of basketball, we all enjoy each other’s company, we all fight for each other. It’s just a good group of people.”
19. Second-year wing Bilal Coulibaly led the Wizards with 23 factors. However ahead Kyle Kuzma scored solely 14 on a depressing 3-of-16 capturing.
20. It’s going to be one other lengthy yr for professional basketball in our nation’s capital. The Wizards have performed every of their first two video games at house. They misplaced the primary by 20. They misplaced this one by 19, and it might’ve been rather a lot worse.
21. Again to the Cavs. Sure, the competitors has been removed from stiff. However that’s irrelevant. What you need to see is that if your favourite group is displaying indicators of enjoying sensible, enjoying exhausting and enjoying collectively. When that occurs, you may settle for the end result, particularly this early within the season.
22. Proper now, that’s Cavaliers Basketball.
